Oil Slicks No More: Remove Grease Stains from the Driveway

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If you are reading this post, you have probably been annoyed by the eyesore for longer than you’d like to admit.

Don’t let the grease-blues get you down. You have the power to take the matter into your own hands. Here’s how to remove grease stains from the driveway.

1. Soak up or wipe away any excess motor oil. You can use paper towels, newspapers or an old towel/rag to do the trick. When done, dispose of materials in a sealable container or bag to be taken to a toxic waste disposal center within your county.

2. Throw a thick layer of kitty liter or sawdust over the stain. Allow it to sit for at least 24 hours. This process will absorb more excess grease.

3. Sweep up the litter after the 24-hour period. Once again, dispose of materials in a sealable container or bag to be taken to a waste disposal center.

4. Use your favorite dish soap and hot water on the stain. Create a thick soap lather, and utilize a strong nylon scrub brush to attack the stain vigorously. The amount of time you will spend scrubbing the stain depends largely on how embedded it is in your driveway.

5. Pour a second batch of fresh kitty litter or sawdust to absorb the oily soap/water mixture. After the mixture has been absorbed for another 24-hour period, place all materials in a sealable container or bag.

(Note: You can also use paper towels or old cloth towels to remove the soapy mixture, if you would rather avoid using litter or sawdust a second time.)

6. Carefully rinse the area with hot water again and wipe away any excess oil with a towel or cloth.

Never rinse the toxic mixture into your yard or the street. When oil and other toxic materials are rinsed into the street, they will eventually end up in a reclamation plant, river, or the ocean, which become contaminated. Also, if rinsed into grass or plants, they may die and need to be replaced.

7. Make sure you remember to take all oil-containing paper towels, rags, newspapers, kitty litter, and bags to a toxic waste disposal center in your area. To locate one, Google “toxic waste disposal center” and the name of your city or county.

Bonus Tip: Don’t panic if the stain isn’t fully removed after your first attempt. You may need to give it another shot by repeating the second and third steps. Make sure you allow for the kitty litter to sit for another full 24-hour period each time you repeat the process.

The secret to success for this project is patience and a lot of scrubbing tenacity.